Hamstring Stretch
Hamstrings are the large muscle at the back of our thighs. Stretching your hamstrings, will help to increase the flexibility of your hips, which should make bending down and general everyday tasks a little easier.
Sitting up in your chair, put one leg out in front of yourself, keeping your outstretched leg straight and point your toes towards the ceiling. Lean forward moving your hand down your outstretched leg as far as it is comfortable to go, aiming to reach your toes. Hold this for 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.
Hip Stretch
Knee raises can be used to strengthen the muscles around hip flexors which will also help with bending down.
To stretch your hips, sitting in your chair raise up your left knee as far as is possible (using your hand to assist if needed) and then place back down, repeat this 10 times and then perform the same exercise on the other side.
Remember it is important to build up to practicing your stretches gradually, and never do any movement that causes pain.
We hope you enjoy practicing some of these stretches and feel the benefits.
If you’d like to discover some more exercises,
Life Health Seniors is a good place to start, it has lots of advice with stretching activities to follow. Age UK also provide advice on
exercise for older people and stretching exercises for seniors to try.
Wiltshire Farm Foods content does not replace the advice of any registered healthcare professional, and you should always seek the advice of your General Practitioner when following a new exercise regime. The guidelines in this article are for general healthy living purposes and you should always follow the advice of medical professionals.